Alistair studied Biochemistry at Imperial College, London graduating in 1999. He then pursued a career in research and studied mechanisms of intracellular protein trafficking at the University of Manchester, gaining a PhD in 2003. He went on to specialise in Clinical Biochemistry and was awarded an MSc in 2005.

After training at University Hospitals Aintree and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, he moved to University College London Hospitals and worked in the Neurometabolic Unit at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Here, his work focussed on completion of FRCPath, experience in routine clinical biochemistry, and developing an expertise in disorders of intermediary metabolism and quality management. He was appointed as Principal Clinical Scientist in the Willink Metabolic Unit, part of the Genomic Diagnostics Laboratory, in May 2013.